How to Live; How to Die

There are thousands of self-help books promising how to be successful or how to be effective. The Bible, by far, is the most powerful book and instructive book ever written. It tells us how to live. It also shows us how to die.

I have made the Word of God a part of my daily life for many decades. It is one of the most important things I have ever done. The Word of God was delivered into our hands by His servants who penned them thousands of years ago. It is an ancient book that speaks strongly to us today. There are none like it nor shall there ever be.

Learn with me from a few verses from the Apostle Paul to his spiritual son Timothy.

How to Live:
Paul, in an instructive letter to Timothy shared this nugget of truth, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5 NKJV).

The main ingredient to a life in Christ is Christ-like love. Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment. “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40 NKJV).

Christian love flows from:
• Pure Heart – Inner Life bought by Christ’s blood and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• Good Conscience – Life liberated from offenses. Keep your offense list short and burn them at sundown.
• Sincere Faith – True and genuine faith in Jesus without hypocrisy.

How to Die:
In a farewell letter to Timothy just before he was beheaded by the Roman emperor Nero, Paul summed up his life’s work for Jesus, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7 NKJV).

• Good Fight – Life is a battle. Our armor is the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit (See Ephesians 6:10-17).
• Run the Race – Life is a marathon. We pace ourselves so we will not lag behind or get ahead of God. It is a journey, taking one step after another in the right direction.
• Keep the Faith – Stay true to God, His Word, and true to His purpose for you.

Everything we own and cherish will one day either fade away or the title will be transferred to someone else. Most people are not remembered beyond three generations, and most graves eventually will not be visited. People soon forget.

God does not forget. He remembers and will reward those who loved, fought, ran their race, and kept their faith. I had rather be scorned on earth and celebrated in Heaven than to be loved on earth and scorned by Heaven.

Revelation 14:13 NKJV
“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (Rev. 14:13 NKJV).

If you haven’t noticed. Life is short. Death is certain. Make sure you know how to live and how to die.

Yours on the Journey,

Harry L. Whitt